Ice Storms Cripple Sierra Nevada Ski Lifts in Granada

Ice storms over the past three days have inflicted severe damage on Sierra Nevada's ski lifts in Granada, forcing several chairlifts out of service and bending support towers under the weight of accumulated ice, Cetursa has reported.

The most serious incident involves the Laguna chairlift, where tower number 23 buckled, likely sidelining the entire lift for the rest of the season. The haulage cable derailed across much of its route due to heavy ice buildup. Other key lifts in the ski area have also sustained significant impacts: the Zayas surface lift has one affected tower; the Monachil chairlift shows derailments on 15 towers along with an undetermined number of damaged carriers; the Stadium chairlift reports six impacted towers; and the Virgen de las Nieves chairlift has eight structures damaged.

This rare weather event, known as subcooled rain or an ice storm, occurs when rain falls onto surfaces below freezing—particularly metal structures—and freezes on contact, forming thick ice layers. Sierra Nevada's proximity to the Mediterranean Sea heightens the risk of such episodes, which have not struck with this intensity since February 1989.

Cetursa, the company managing the Granada ski resort, confirmed the provisional damage assessment amid ongoing storms. No injuries were reported, but the disruptions threaten operations during peak season. Engineers are evaluating repairs, though full recovery timelines remain unclear.